Explore the Family Name Fleck
The meaning of Fleck
1. German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): from Middle High German vlec(ke), German Fleck ‘patch, spot’ or Yiddish flek, of varied application. Bahlow suggests that this may be a metonymic occupational name for a user of patches in repairing shoes, clothes, or utensils, or a habitational name from a place called with this word. In some parts of Germany this was the term for a type of round, flat loaf; the surname could therefore have arisen as a metonymic occupational name for a baker. In some cases the Jewish name was probably ornamental. 2. English (Northumberland) and Scottish: nickname derived from flecked ‘pied, spotted’, which is on record since 1377; the noun fleck ‘skin blemish: freckle’ is not recorded till 1596, but may well have existed earlier. Alternatively, a metonymic occupational name from Middle English flek(e) ‘hurdle’ (Old Norse fleki), for a maker of hurdles. 3. English: perhaps a shortened variant of Flecknoe, from the place so named in Wolfhampcote, Warwickshire.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Fleck in the United States?
According to data from the Decennial U.S. Census, the popularity of the surname Fleck in the United States has seen a slight decline between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 3831st most popular surname, but by 2010 it had dropped slightly to the 4012th position, representing a -4.72% change. However, the number of individuals carrying the Fleck surname increased during this period from 8516 to 8852, marking a growth rate of 3.95%. The proportion per 100,000 people has also decreased from 3.16 to 3.0, indicating a -5.06% change.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #3,831 | #4,012 | -4.72% |
| Count | 8,516 | 8,852 | 3.95% |
| Proportion per 100k | 3.16 | 3 | -5.06% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Fleck
In terms of ethnicity, based on the Decennial U.S. Census, there have been some shifts in the ethnic identity associated with the Fleck surname between 2000 and 2010. During that period, the percentage of those identified as White reduced slightly from 96.52% to 95.38%, while the percentages of those who are Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic saw increases of 60.00%, 52.63%, and 48.36% respectively. Those identifying with two or more races also increased by 17.92%. On the other hand, the proportion of American Indian and Alaskan Natives decreased by -19.05%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.52% | 95.38% | -1.18% |
| Hispanic | 1.22% | 1.81% | 48.36% |
| Two or More Races | 1.06% | 1.25% | 17.92% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.4% | 0.64% | 60% |
| Black | 0.38% | 0.58% | 52.63% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.42% | 0.34% | -19.05% |
Fleck ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Fleck is French & German, which comprises 35.8% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are British & Irish (35.5%) and Eastern European (9.2%). Additional ancestries include Italian, Scandinavian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Spanish & Portuguese, and Greek & Balkan.
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| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| French & German | 35.8% |
| British & Irish | 35.5% |
| Eastern European | 9.2% |
| Other | 19.5% |
Possible origins of the surname Fleck
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Fleck have recent ancestry locations in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 72.10% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 72.10% |
| Glasgow City, United Kingdom | 72.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 72.10% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 72.10% |
What Fleck haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Fleck is R-U152, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-U152 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-Z278 and R-L51, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Ayres, Ayers, Peacock, Weaver, Ott, Ackerman, Stokes, Mathieu, Schenk, Heinz.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Fleck surname are: H1, H, V. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Fleck have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Fleck" Surname 54.2%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Fleck" Surname 24.4%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Fleck" Surname 20.2%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Fleck" Surname 20.9%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Fleck?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Fleck are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition